The Government of Malta and VFS Global have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) to expand cooperation on mobility, citizen services and skills development, the company said on Thursday (Oct 8). The agreement brings together Malta's Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA), Identità, the country's identity management agency, and the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) under an expanded framework of cooperation. The declaration was signed in Valletta on the sidelines of the World Travel &amp; Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Malta. It was signed by Christopher Cutajar for MFEA, Col. Edric Zahra for Identità, Pierre Fenech for ITS and Zubin Karkaria, founder and CEO of VFS Global.&nbsp;The expanded partnership will include citizen and consular support services for Maltese nationals living overseas, in coordination with the MFEA. It will also broaden skills assessment services currently provided in collaboration with ITS. The existing partnership with ITS has focused on facilitating interviews for candidates in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Under the new framework, the scope will be extended to support talent requirements across other sectors, VFS Global said.&nbsp;The collaboration will also seek to facilitate a skilled and verified workforce to meet Malta's evolving employment needs and support initiatives aimed at positioning the country as a destination for international education. The agreement builds on VFS Global's longstanding partnership with the Maltese government and Identità, which currently covers short-stay and long-stay visa services as well as skills assessment.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Our partnership with the Government of Malta has evolved significantly since it began in 2008, and this MoU marks an important new chapter in that journey," Karkaria said. He said the expansion into citizen services for Maltese nationals overseas and skills development across strategic sectors reflected the confidence placed in VFS Global as a partner.&nbsp;VFS Global has worked with the Maltese government since 2008 and currently provides visa services on its behalf in 73 countries through 155 dedicated visa application centres. The company clarified that its role in the visa process is limited to administrative tasks such as collecting applications and documents and enrolling biometrics. Decisions to grant or refuse visas remain solely with the concerned embassy or Identità. The signing comes as Malta seeks to strengthen mobility, citizen services and workforce capabilities across key sectors.

Malta and VFS Global have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to expand cooperation on citizen and consular services, skills assessment and workforce development. The partnership will support Maltese nationals overseas and broaden talent assessment beyond tourism and hospitality sectors.

The Government of Malta and VFS Global have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) to expand cooperation on mobility, citizen services and skills development, the company said on Thursday (Oct 8). The agreement brings together Malta's Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA), Identità, the country's identity management agency, and the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) under an expanded framework of cooperation. The declaration was signed in Valletta on the sidelines of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Malta. It was signed by Christopher Cutajar for MFEA, Col. Edric Zahra for Identità, Pierre Fenech for ITS and Zubin Karkaria, founder and CEO of VFS Global. The expanded partnership will include citizen and consular support services for Maltese nationals living overseas, in coordination with the MFEA. It will also broaden skills assessment services currently provided in collaboration with ITS. The existing partnership with ITS has focused on facilitating interviews for candidates in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Under the new framework, the scope will be extended to support talent requirements across other sectors, VFS Global said. The collaboration will also seek to facilitate a skilled and verified workforce to meet Malta's evolving employment needs and support initiatives aimed at positioning the country as a destination for international education. The agreement builds on VFS Global's longstanding partnership with the Maltese government and Identità, which currently covers short-stay and long-stay visa services as well as skills assessment. "Our partnership with the Government of Malta has evolved significantly since it began in 2008, and this MoU marks an important new chapter in that journey," Karkaria said. He said the expansion into citizen services for Maltese nationals overseas and skills development across strategic sectors reflected the confidence placed in VFS Global as a partner. VFS Global has worked with the Maltese government since 2008 and currently provides visa services on its behalf in 73 countries through 155 dedicated visa application centres. The company clarified that its role in the visa process is limited to administrative tasks such as collecting applications and documents and enrolling biometrics. Decisions to grant or refuse visas remain solely with the concerned embassy or Identità. The signing comes as Malta seeks to strengthen mobility, citizen services and workforce capabilities across key sectors.

Malta and VFS Global have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to expand cooperation on citizen and consular services, skills assessment and workforce development. The partnership will support Maltese nationals overseas and broaden talent assessment beyond tourism and hospitality sectors.

Malta expands partnership with VFS Global for consular services, skills assessment, workforce development

Mumbai: Property registration services in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Nagpur have become faster and more convenient with the launch of three technology-enabled Model Sub-Registrar Offices (SROs) as part of Maharashtra’s ongoing initiative to modernise property registration services.The centres will provide registration services for a range of property-related documents, including sale deeds, lease deeds, gift deeds, powers of attorney and wills, among others.&nbsp;The initiative builds on the successful launch of Maharashtra’s first Model Sub-Registrar Office in Pune. The Government of Maharashtra, in partnership with VFS Global and WE Excel Software Pvt. Ltd., is now expanding the model to additional locations across the state.&nbsp;Designed as modern, citizen-centric service centres, the model offices combine digital infrastructure with streamlined service delivery to simplify the registration process. The centres will reduce waiting times, improve operational efficiency, and enhance transparency while maintaining regulatory compliance and government oversight.&nbsp;“Following the successful launch of Maharashtra’s first Model Sub-Registrar Office in Pune, we are pleased to expand this citizen-centric initiative to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Nagpur,” said Ravindra Binwade, Inspector General of Registration (IGR), Government of Maharashtra.&nbsp;“These centres have been designed to provide a faster, more transparent, and more convenient property registration experience through modern infrastructure, digital systems, and streamlined service delivery. By reducing waiting times and enhancing service standards, we are making government services more accessible and efficient for citizens while maintaining strong governance and oversight. This expansion is another important step in our commitment to modernizing registration services across Maharashtra,” he added.&nbsp;The Model SROs are supported by end-to-end digital infrastructure and trained service delivery teams to create a seamless registration experience for citizens.&nbsp;In early 2026, VFS Global, in consortium with WE Excel Software Pvt. Ltd., was awarded a five-year contract by the Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps, Government of Maharashtra, to set up 60 state-of-the-art Model Sub-Registrar Offices across Maharashtra in a phased manner.&nbsp;Under the contract, the consortium will undertake the end-to-end setup of the Model SROs, including the deployment of digital infrastructure and trained teams to support the modernisation of property registration services.&nbsp;The Model SROs will operate as an optional service, while existing government Sub-Registrar Offices will continue to operate.&nbsp;The Model SRO in Mumbai is located at Unit No. 309-A, 3rd Floor, Trade Center, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400051.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Navi Mumbai model SRO is at 104, Ground Floor, A Wing, Building No. 7, Millennium Business Park, Sector 2, Mahape, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400710, while the one at Nagpur is functional at 1st Floor, Crosswind Building, Plot No. 380C, Corp. House No. 1019, North Ambazari Road, Gandhi Nagar, opposite Wockhardt Hospital, near Dharampeth, Nagpur, Maharashtra – 440010.&nbsp;The first Model SRO under the initiative was lauched in Pune at Office No. 14, 4th Floor, Revolution Mall, Paschkmanagari, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra – 411038.&nbsp;All the model SROs will function from 10 am to 6 pm.&nbsp;<h2>VFS Global</h2>VFS Global is a global provider of technology services supporting governments and citizens, including administrative and non-judgmental services related to visa, passport and consular applications.&nbsp;The company operates more than 4,300 application centres across 170 countries and has processed more than 567 million transactions since 2001, including transactions handled by VFS Global and CiX Citizen Experience.&nbsp;Headquartered in Zurich and Dubai, VFS Global is majority owned by Blackstone, with minority shareholders including Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation, Temasek and Dubai Holdings.&nbsp;<h2>WE Excel Software</h2>WE Excel Software has been operating since 2006 and focuses on digital transformation across e-governance, enterprise solutions, and industry-specific applications.&nbsp;It works with public and private-sector organisations to develop technology solutions aimed at streamlining operations, improving accessibility, and supporting more inclusive service delivery. Its focus is on the modernisation of government services and skill-development initiatives.

Designed as modern, citizen-centric service centres, the model offices combine digital infrastructure with streamlined service delivery to simplify the registration process. They will reduce waiting time, improve operational efficiency, and enhance transparency.

Mumbai: Property registration services in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Nagpur have become faster and more convenient with the launch of three technology-enabled Model Sub-Registrar Offices (SROs) as part of Maharashtra’s ongoing initiative to modernise property registration services. The centres will provide registration services for a range of property-related documents, including sale deeds, lease deeds, gift deeds, powers of attorney and wills, among others. The initiative builds on the successful launch of Maharashtra’s first Model Sub-Registrar Office in Pune. The Government of Maharashtra, in partnership with VFS Global and WE Excel Software Pvt. Ltd., is now expanding the model to additional locations across the state. Designed as modern, citizen-centric service centres, the model offices combine digital infrastructure with streamlined service delivery to simplify the registration process. The centres will reduce waiting times, improve operational efficiency, and enhance transparency while maintaining regulatory compliance and government oversight. “Following the successful launch of Maharashtra’s first Model Sub-Registrar Office in Pune, we are pleased to expand this citizen-centric initiative to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Nagpur,” said Ravindra Binwade, Inspector General of Registration (IGR), Government of Maharashtra. “These centres have been designed to provide a faster, more transparent, and more convenient property registration experience through modern infrastructure, digital systems, and streamlined service delivery. By reducing waiting times and enhancing service standards, we are making government services more accessible and efficient for citizens while maintaining strong governance and oversight. This expansion is another important step in our commitment to modernizing registration services across Maharashtra,” he added. The Model SROs are supported by end-to-end digital infrastructure and trained service delivery teams to create a seamless registration experience for citizens. In early 2026, VFS Global, in consortium with WE Excel Software Pvt. Ltd., was awarded a five-year contract by the Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps, Government of Maharashtra, to set up 60 state-of-the-art Model Sub-Registrar Offices across Maharashtra in a phased manner. Under the contract, the consortium will undertake the end-to-end setup of the Model SROs, including the deployment of digital infrastructure and trained teams to support the modernisation of property registration services. The Model SROs will operate as an optional service, while existing government Sub-Registrar Offices will continue to operate. The Model SRO in Mumbai is located at Unit No. 309-A, 3rd Floor, Trade Center, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400051. The Navi Mumbai model SRO is at 104, Ground Floor, A Wing, Building No. 7, Millennium Business Park, Sector 2, Mahape, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400710, while the one at Nagpur is functional at 1st Floor, Crosswind Building, Plot No. 380C, Corp. House No. 1019, North Ambazari Road, Gandhi Nagar, opposite Wockhardt Hospital, near Dharampeth, Nagpur, Maharashtra – 440010. The first Model SRO under the initiative was lauched in Pune at Office No. 14, 4th Floor, Revolution Mall, Paschkmanagari, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra – 411038. All the model SROs will function from 10 am to 6 pm. VFS Global VFS Global is a global provider of technology services supporting governments and citizens, including administrative and non-judgmental services related to visa, passport and consular applications. The company operates more than 4,300 application centres across 170 countries and has processed more than 567 million transactions since 2001, including transactions handled by VFS Global and CiX Citizen Experience. Headquartered in Zurich and Dubai, VFS Global is majority owned by Blackstone, with minority shareholders including Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation, Temasek and Dubai Holdings. WE Excel Software WE Excel Software has been operating since 2006 and focuses on digital transformation across e-governance, enterprise solutions, and industry-specific applications. It works with public and private-sector organisations to develop technology solutions aimed at streamlining operations, improving accessibility, and supporting more inclusive service delivery. Its focus is on the modernisation of government services and skill-development initiatives.

Designed as modern, citizen-centric service centres, the model offices combine digital infrastructure with streamlined service delivery to simplify the registration process. They will reduce waiting time, improve operational efficiency, and enhance transparency.

Property registration becomes faster, convenient as model sub-registrar offices open in Maharashtra

As global travel undergoes rapid transformation driven by technology, evolving traveller expectations and changing mobility frameworks, leaders from across government, diplomacy, tourism, aviation, hospitality and technology will convene in New Delhi on 23 September for the WION Iconic Tourism Summit &amp; Awards 2026.The summit will explore some of the most pressing issues shaping global mobility today, from visa policy and border management to biometric travel, digital transformation, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in enhancing traveller experiences. The event will conclude with the Iconic Awards 2026, recognising outstanding individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to the travel and tourism industry.Part of the WION World Conferences series, the event at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, is presented by VFS Global, the global leader in trusted technology services enabling secure international mobility, which this year marks 25 years of facilitating seamless cross-border travel.The event is being organised in association with Red Hat Communications.&nbsp;Speaking about the event, Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO, VFS Global said:&nbsp;“As technology continues to reshape industries and customer expectations, meaningful conversations on innovation have never been more important. We are pleased to be associated with the WION-Red Hat Iconic Tourism Summit 2026, a platform that brings together leaders and changemakers to discuss the technologies, ideas, and partnerships driving the future. At VFS Global, we remain committed to leveraging innovation and digital transformation to enhance customer experiences that enable secure and seamless mobility solutions worldwide.”&nbsp;Raktim Das, CEO, Zee Media Corporation Limited, said: “Travel is one of the few ecosystems that brings the world together — connecting destinations with people, cultures with experiences, and businesses with new possibilities. At WION — World Is One — this idea of a connected world is at the heart of what we do. The Iconic Tourism Summit &amp; Awards is one such initiative – it has been envisioned to bring together the entire travel ecosystem into one conversation — from tourism boards, hospitality and aviation to technology, experiences, investors and innovators shaping the future of travel.”&nbsp;Jyoti Mayal, CEO of Red Hat Communications and Chairperson of THSC said: “At ICONIC, we believe progress begins with inspired minds and is sustained by celebrated achievements. Through the ICONIC Tourism Summit and Awards, we bring together the finest industry voices to share knowledge, exchange learnings, challenge perspectives, and inspire new possibilities, while honouring the individuals and organisations who transform these ideas into impact. This event creates a platform that inspires minds, celebrates excellence, and strengthens the future of tourism and beyond.”&nbsp;<h2>The Summit sessions</h2><h3>Borders without barriers: The diplomacy of visas and mobility</h3>This session focuses on one of the most powerful enablers of global travel and tourism: seamless cross-border mobility. It will explore how countries are enhancing travel access for Indian travellers through initiatives such as e-visas, visa-free arrangements, accelerated processing, and digital travel credentials. The discussion will also examine how greater ease of movement can strengthen tourism, foster deeper business and trade engagement, expand educational opportunities, and reinforce people-to-people connections between India and the world.<h3>Soft power on the move: Tourism, culture and bilateral ties</h3>Tourism is arguably the most durable form of diplomatic relations. This session discusses how nations use cultural exchange, film, cuisine and travel promotion to deepen bilateral relationships, and how Indian outbound tourism has become a soft-power constituency, not just a commercial opportunity.<h3>The business of travel: Aviation, hospitality and India's tourism infrastructure story</h3>This session covers airline capacity, airport expansion, hospitality investment and the infrastructure race to serve India's growing outbound and inbound travel demand. The focus is on whether supply is arriving fast enough to meet the demand.<h2>Travel Tech frontiers&nbsp;</h2>This discussion will take a broader look at how technology is transforming travel, from use of AI in trip planning and biometric airport experiences to digital visas, smart border control and fraud-resistant travel documentation.&nbsp;<h3>Iconic Awards 2026: An evening of excellence</h3>The Iconic Awards 2026, the closing event of the summit, will recognise achievement across travel, hospitality and luxury.&nbsp;The Iconic Tourism Summit &amp; Awards 2026&nbsp;will see a large presence of diplomats from close to 20 countries.It’s going to be a wholesome experience where India's top voices in travel, tourism and hospitality explore the journeys, experiences and ideas defining the destinations of tomorrow: a single stack of discussions, debate, appreciation and fireside conversations.

Ministers, ambassadors, leaders from the visa, aviation and hospitality sectors, along with technology innovators, will gather in New Delhi on 23 September for the WION Iconic Tourism Summit & Awards 2026 to discuss the future of global mobility and travel.

As global travel undergoes rapid transformation driven by technology, evolving traveller expectations and changing mobility frameworks, leaders from across government, diplomacy, tourism, aviation, hospitality and technology will convene in New Delhi on 23 September for the WION Iconic Tourism Summit & Awards 2026. The summit will explore some of the most pressing issues shaping global mobility today, from visa policy and border management to biometric travel, digital transformation, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in enhancing traveller experiences. The event will conclude with the Iconic Awards 2026, recognising outstanding individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to the travel and tourism industry. Part of the WION World Conferences series, the event at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, is presented by VFS Global, the global leader in trusted technology services enabling secure international mobility, which this year marks 25 years of facilitating seamless cross-border travel. The event is being organised in association with Red Hat Communications. Speaking about the event, Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO, VFS Global said: “As technology continues to reshape industries and customer expectations, meaningful conversations on innovation have never been more important. We are pleased to be associated with the WION-Red Hat Iconic Tourism Summit 2026, a platform that brings together leaders and changemakers to discuss the technologies, ideas, and partnerships driving the future. At VFS Global, we remain committed to leveraging innovation and digital transformation to enhance customer experiences that enable secure and seamless mobility solutions worldwide.” Raktim Das, CEO, Zee Media Corporation Limited, said: “Travel is one of the few ecosystems that brings the world together — connecting destinations with people, cultures with experiences, and businesses with new possibilities. At WION — World Is One — this idea of a connected world is at the heart of what we do. The Iconic Tourism Summit & Awards is one such initiative – it has been envisioned to bring together the entire travel ecosystem into one conversation — from tourism boards, hospitality and aviation to technology, experiences, investors and innovators shaping the future of travel.” Jyoti Mayal, CEO of Red Hat Communications and Chairperson of THSC said: “At ICONIC, we believe progress begins with inspired minds and is sustained by celebrated achievements. Through the ICONIC Tourism Summit and Awards, we bring together the finest industry voices to share knowledge, exchange learnings, challenge perspectives, and inspire new possibilities, while honouring the individuals and organisations who transform these ideas into impact. This event creates a platform that inspires minds, celebrates excellence, and strengthens the future of tourism and beyond.” The Summit sessions Borders without barriers: The diplomacy of visas and mobility This session focuses on one of the most powerful enablers of global travel and tourism: seamless cross-border mobility. It will explore how countries are enhancing travel access for Indian travellers through initiatives such as e-visas, visa-free arrangements, accelerated processing, and digital travel credentials. The discussion will also examine how greater ease of movement can strengthen tourism, foster deeper business and trade engagement, expand educational opportunities, and reinforce people-to-people connections between India and the world. Soft power on the move: Tourism, culture and bilateral ties Tourism is arguably the most durable form of diplomatic relations. This session discusses how nations use cultural exchange, film, cuisine and travel promotion to deepen bilateral relationships, and how Indian outbound tourism has become a soft-power constituency, not just a commercial opportunity. The business of travel: Aviation, hospitality and India's tourism infrastructure story This session covers airline capacity, airport expansion, hospitality investment and the infrastructure race to serve India's growing outbound and inbound travel demand. The focus is on whether supply is arriving fast enough to meet the demand. Travel Tech frontiers This discussion will take a broader look at how technology is transforming travel, from use of AI in trip planning and biometric airport experiences to digital visas, smart border control and fraud-resistant travel documentation. Iconic Awards 2026: An evening of excellence The Iconic Awards 2026, the closing event of the summit, will recognise achievement across travel, hospitality and luxury. The Iconic Tourism Summit & Awards 2026 will see a large presence of diplomats from close to 20 countries. It’s going to be a wholesome experience where India's top voices in travel, tourism and hospitality explore the journeys, experiences and ideas defining the destinations of tomorrow: a single stack of discussions, debate, appreciation and fireside conversations.

Ministers, ambassadors, leaders from the visa, aviation and hospitality sectors, along with technology innovators, will gather in New Delhi on 23 September for the WION Iconic Tourism Summit &amp; Awards 2026 to discuss the future of global mobility and travel.

WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Iconic Awards 2026: India's travel economy leaders gather in Delhi

Some 72 hours after one of the largest gatherings of world leaders in India, the BRICS summit’s focus on people and mobility offers a useful way to examine what makes international cooperation work in practice. The BRICS New Delhi Declaration places people-to-people cooperation among the bloc’s three central pillars, alongside political and security cooperation and economic and financial cooperation. One of the key focus areas was people and mobility. The message was clear: connectivity is not only about roads, ports, railways and digital networks. It is also about whether students, tourists, business travellers, researchers and families can move across borders with greater clarity and confidence.In 2023, nearly 8 million Indians travelled to BRICS countries, while around 414,000 visitors from BRICS nations came to India. Those figures point to a significant imbalance, but they also underline the scale of the opportunity. As trade, education, tourism and investment expand across the bloc, the movement of people will become an increasingly important part of the BRICS story.Against this backdrop, one of the most closely watched developments was the gradual resumption of direct air services between India and China after a six-year interruption. China Southern Airlines has re-started regular passenger flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi, marking the return of the carrier’s India service. Direct services have also returned or begun on routes linking Indian and Chinese cities, including New Delhi and Shanghai, Kolkata and Kunming, and Kolkata and Shanghai.&nbsp;Air routes are a visible sign of a diplomatic thaw. But they are also economic infrastructure. For BRICS, the larger question is whether this momentum can be extended across the bloc through better air connectivity, interoperable digital systems and more predictable visa arrangements.<h2>From transport link to trusted systems</h2>One of the prominent collaborators of BRICS governments in the mobility ecosystem is VFS Global. VFS has partnered with some of the most critical BRICS nations like Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.&nbsp;The company was set up in 2001 on a single premise: a government could outsource the queue without outsourcing the decision. Twenty-five years on, that premise underpins a large share of the world's travel. VFS Global currently serves 71 client governments and operates more than 4,200 application centres across 169 countries.&nbsp;<h2>The trustworthy systems that run mobility</h2>Supporting all of it is an operational network of appointment scheduling, online payment collection, contact-center interactions, translation services, courier logistics, document digitization and data management. More than 240 million biometric enrolments have been completed since 2007. The company is investing in digital platforms, artificial intelligence and data-led technologies to support governments in areas such as predictive analytics, secure identity management and fraud detection.VFS Global handles the administrative and non-judgmental aspects of the process. Appointment availability, documentation requirements, processing timelines and the final visa decision remain entirely with the government concerned. The administrative work is completed in advance so that the visa officer spends more time on assessment and less on paperwork.That separation is what makes the model portable across very different political systems. A government that wants tighter scrutiny can have it. <img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260916/image-1789553266303.JPG?rect=(0,378,5964,4473)" alt="Image Element"><h2>More partnerships in the offing</h2>Much of the world's visa, passport and identity paperwork is still processed in-house. Reliable estimates of how much are difficult to pin down, in part because definitions of the market vary widely. VFS Global's view is that considerable potential remains for governments to outsource a greater share of administrative visa, passport, identity and citizen services to specialist providers.“We are focusing on mobility and making sure trade improves because when we increase mobility and people travel, trade automatically improves,” says Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global.That is the connection BRICS leaders spent two days describing in other languages. Trade corridors are also travel corridors.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The BRICS grouping's focus on people and mobility highlights how air connectivity, visa systems and trusted infrastructure can support tourism, trade, investment and stronger cross-border cooperation.

Some 72 hours after one of the largest gatherings of world leaders in India, the BRICS summit’s focus on people and mobility offers a useful way to examine what makes international cooperation work in practice. The BRICS New Delhi Declaration places people-to-people cooperation among the bloc’s three central pillars, alongside political and security cooperation and economic and financial cooperation. One of the key focus areas was people and mobility. The message was clear: connectivity is not only about roads, ports, railways and digital networks. It is also about whether students, tourists, business travellers, researchers and families can move across borders with greater clarity and confidence. In 2023, nearly 8 million Indians travelled to BRICS countries, while around 414,000 visitors from BRICS nations came to India. Those figures point to a significant imbalance, but they also underline the scale of the opportunity. As trade, education, tourism and investment expand across the bloc, the movement of people will become an increasingly important part of the BRICS story. Against this backdrop, one of the most closely watched developments was the gradual resumption of direct air services between India and China after a six-year interruption. China Southern Airlines has re-started regular passenger flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi, marking the return of the carrier’s India service. Direct services have also returned or begun on routes linking Indian and Chinese cities, including New Delhi and Shanghai, Kolkata and Kunming, and Kolkata and Shanghai. Air routes are a visible sign of a diplomatic thaw. But they are also economic infrastructure. For BRICS, the larger question is whether this momentum can be extended across the bloc through better air connectivity, interoperable digital systems and more predictable visa arrangements. From transport link to trusted systems One of the prominent collaborators of BRICS governments in the mobility ecosystem is VFS Global. VFS has partnered with some of the most critical BRICS nations like Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. The company was set up in 2001 on a single premise: a government could outsource the queue without outsourcing the decision. Twenty-five years on, that premise underpins a large share of the world's travel. VFS Global currently serves 71 client governments and operates more than 4,200 application centres across 169 countries. The trustworthy systems that run mobility Supporting all of it is an operational network of appointment scheduling, online payment collection, contact-center interactions, translation services, courier logistics, document digitization and data management. More than 240 million biometric enrolments have been completed since 2007. The company is investing in digital platforms, artificial intelligence and data-led technologies to support governments in areas such as predictive analytics, secure identity management and fraud detection. VFS Global handles the administrative and non-judgmental aspects of the process. Appointment availability, documentation requirements, processing timelines and the final visa decision remain entirely with the government concerned. The administrative work is completed in advance so that the visa officer spends more time on assessment and less on paperwork. That separation is what makes the model portable across very different political systems. A government that wants tighter scrutiny can have it. More partnerships in the offing Much of the world's visa, passport and identity paperwork is still processed in-house. Reliable estimates of how much are difficult to pin down, in part because definitions of the market vary widely. VFS Global's view is that considerable potential remains for governments to outsource a greater share of administrative visa, passport, identity and citizen services to specialist providers. “We are focusing on mobility and making sure trade improves because when we increase mobility and people travel, trade automatically improves,” says Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global. That is the connection BRICS leaders spent two days describing in other languages. Trade corridors are also travel corridors.

The BRICS grouping's focus on people and mobility highlights how air connectivity, visa systems and trusted infrastructure can support tourism, trade, investment and stronger cross-border cooperation.

People’s connectivity core of BRICS agenda at New Delhi

BRICS leaders gather at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13 for the 18th summit, closing India's chairship under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability". The bloc's public-private partnership (PPP) agenda has so far been a story of physical infrastructure. But the question is whether it should also be a story about counters, queues and certificates. About people facing services.&nbsp;<h2>The BRICS PPP story so far&nbsp;</h2>BRICS formalised its PPP cooperation in 2016, and the BRICS Taskforce on Public-Private Partnerships was set up to manage that work and establish best practices among member states. The remit of this cooperation has been about infrastructure. At the finance ministers' meeting in October 2024, the task force flagged blended finance as the key instrument for pulling private capital into infrastructure aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Brazil's presidency opened its first task force meeting in March 2025 on climate-resilient infrastructure. In May that year, Abu Dhabi hosted the task force and a seminar on flexible financing models for education, healthcare, clean energy and transport. Running underneath it all is the New Development Bank, whose project pipeline and membership expansion have shaped the bloc's infrastructure conversation since 2018.

Services for the public: The category nobody counted in PPP

Roads and grids are measurable but public-facing service delivery is not. Yet, it is where citizens actually meet the state. A passport window, a sub-registrar's office, a civil registration counter, and so many other services. BRICS now speaks for close to half the world's population and roughly 40 per cent of global GDP. That is a very large number of queues for such services.&nbsp;<h2>VFS: A 25-year proof of concept on service delivery for the people&nbsp;</h2>The model for service delivery as PPP already exists. In 2001, a VFS Global pilot with the US Consulate in Mumbai led to the establishment of three small visa centres in western India. Twenty-five years on, VFS Global works with 71 client governments, runs more than 4,200 application centres across 169 countries with over 17,500 staff, and has processed more than 557 million transactions. The company handles the administrative, non-judgmental layer while the government keeps the decision powers.<h2>From visas to registries: Potential proven, expansion is the need of the hour&nbsp;</h2>The expansion of service category is already visible. In May 2026, a VFS Global-led consortium with WE Excel Software won a five-year contract from Maharashtra's Inspector General of Registration to set up 60 Model Sub-Registrar Offices. The offices stay under government control and are staffed by departmental officials, and citizens can still choose a regular SRO.&nbsp;Elsewhere, a major milestone in this evolution was the acquisition of CiX Citizen Experience (CiX) in Brazil. Today, CiX Citizen Experience supports more than 170 million citizens through over 250 centres, delivering more than 200 public services. The acquisition has strengthened VFS Global’s position in citizen services and expanded its ability to help governments deliver more accessible and citizen-centric public services.&nbsp;There is huge possibility of expanding the success of VFS Global services into other BRICS nations. A strong impetus for this would come if service delivery is added to the PPP segment in BRICS.&nbsp;South Africa's Department of Home Affairs contracted the company in 2010 for visa and permit intake at its missions abroad, and again in 2013 for intake within the country — an arrangement the Auditor General later recommended be restructured as a formal public-private partnership. Vehicle registration, vital record registrations, company incorporation, e-governance portals — each is administrative volume attached to a sovereign decision. That is exactly the seam the PPP model was built for. Whether BRICS names it in Delhi is the thing to watch.&nbsp;

The PPP agenda of BRICS has so far been about physical infrastructure. But it should also be a story about counters, queues and certificates. About people facing services,  like those offered by VFS Global.

BRICS leaders gather at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13 for the 18th summit, closing India's chairship under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability". The bloc's public-private partnership (PPP) agenda has so far been a story of physical infrastructure. But the question is whether it should also be a story about counters, queues and certificates. About people facing services. The BRICS PPP story so far BRICS formalised its PPP cooperation in 2016, and the BRICS Taskforce on Public-Private Partnerships was set up to manage that work and establish best practices among member states. The remit of this cooperation has been about infrastructure. At the finance ministers' meeting in October 2024, the task force flagged blended finance as the key instrument for pulling private capital into infrastructure aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Brazil's presidency opened its first task force meeting in March 2025 on climate-resilient infrastructure. In May that year, Abu Dhabi hosted the task force and a seminar on flexible financing models for education, healthcare, clean energy and transport. Running underneath it all is the New Development Bank, whose project pipeline and membership expansion have shaped the bloc's infrastructure conversation since 2018.

The PPP agenda of BRICS has so far been about physical infrastructure. But it should also be a story about counters, queues and certificates. About people facing services, &nbsp;like those offered by VFS Global.

BRICS beyond infrastructure: The next PPP revolution could be in citizen services

vfs-global

Vfs Global, News on Vfs Global, stories on Vfs Global, articles on Vfs Global, Vfs Global stories at Wion, Vfs Global news, Vfs Global latest news

vfs global

Malta expands partnership with VFS Global for consular services, skills assessment, workforce development

Property registration now faster, convenient as model SROs open in Maharashtra

WION Iconic Tourism Summit: India's travel economy leaders gather in Delhi

People’s connectivity core of BRICS agenda at New Delhi

BRICS beyond infrastructure: Next PPP revolution could be in citizen services